Adjustable wheel mounting means

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner structure wherein a nozzle is mounted on a wheeled carriage, the front portion of the carriage being vertically adjustably positioned relative to the subjacent surface on which the wheels are disposed. Thus, the vacuum cleaner structure is adjustable for use with different height pile carpeting, i.e., from relatively low pile carpeting to deep shag carpeting. The wheel adjusting means includes a control member adjustably carried on the nozzle and means for adjusting the relationship of the front wheels of the carriage to the carriage as a function of adjustment of the control member. The adjustment control may include means for locking the control in different preselected positions of adjustment.

United States Patent Nordeen et al.

ADJUSTABLE WHEEL MOUNTING MEANS Inventors: Erwin E. Nordeen, St. Paul;Clifford H. Olson, Jr., Chisago City, both of Minn.

Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich.

Filed: Mar. 30, 1972 Appl. No.: 239,430

Assignee:

US. Cl. 15/339, 15/354 Int. Cl A47l 5/34 Field of Search 15/333, 354,355, 356,

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS Lagerstrom et al l5/354 PrimaryExaminer-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-C. K. Moore Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord 57 ABSTRACT Avacuum cleaner structure wherein a nozzle is mounted on a wheeledcarriage, the front portion of the carriage being vertically adjustablypositioned relative to the subjacent surface on which the wheels aredisposed. Thus, the vacuum cleaner structure is adjustable for use withdifferent height pile carpeting, i.e., from relatively low pilecarpeting to deep shag carpeting. The wheel adjusting means includes acon trol member adjustably carried on the nozzle and means for adjustingthe relationship of the front wheels of the carriage to the carriage asa function of adjustment of the control member. The adjustment controlmay include means for locking the control in different preselectedpositions of adjustment.

14 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTE um I 91974 SHEEI 10$ 3 LowplfsinsME] DEEPSHAG/ PATENTEL, uuv 1 91914 SHEET 2 OF 3 III, IIIIII/Il/PATENT-EL NOV 1 9 I974 sum aor a ADJUSTABLE WHEEL MOUNTING MEANSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to vacuum cleaners and in particular to means for adjusting thedisposition of the vacuum cleaner carriage relative to the floorsurface.

2. Description of the Prior Art The broad concept of providing anadjustable nozzle vacuum cleaner is shown in U.S. Letters Pat. to R. S.Waters, et al., No. 3,262,147. Therein an offset adjusting lever isinserted through an aperture in the bottom wall of the cleaner housing.The lever is adapted to rotate about a vertical axis and includes ahorizontal arm interposed between a cam surface and the central crankportion of an offset wheel axle carrying the front wheels of thecleaner. As the lever is rotated, the lever arm rides on the cam surfacecausing the lever and lever arm to move vertically either up or downdepending on the direction of rotation of the lever. As the lever armmoves downwardly, it imparts movement to the central crank portion andthence to the front wheels.

A spring-biased member is positioned between the crank portion of theaxle and the cover plate of the nozzle to maintain the axle it itsadjusted position. The spring-biased member further may be effected tomove the axle upwardly upon actuation of the lever arm in the oppositedirection.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,730,751 to G. A. Brace shows a wheel adjustment forsuction cleaners having a control lever which is pivoted on a rivet tocause one end thereof to shift crosswise of a leg of the axle andthereby cause the axle to be rotated a slight amount to raise the nozzleto the desired raised position.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,333,494 to E. L. Snyder shows a suction cleaner providedwith a transversely slidable bar carried by brackets on the underside ofthe cleaner and having at its outer end a manually operable knob. Thebar carries three spaced detent seats cooperating with a spring pressedball detent.

Q. Berg U.S. Pat. No. 2,330,655 shows a suction cleaner having amanually operable wedge and a converter means for adjusting thedisposition of the rear wheels of the suction cleaner.

In E. L. Snyder U.S. Pat. No. 2,107,016 a suction cleaner is shownhaving an offset wheel crank arm provided with a vertical shaftextending upwardly to a manually adjustable threaded knob. The manualrotation of the knob results in the raising or lowering of the verticalshaft and thus causes the wheels to be raised or loweredcorrespondingly. v

G. A. Brace U.S. Pat. No. 2,734,216 shows a suction cleaner having awheel adjustment and handle lock arranged to raise the agitator out ofcontact with the carpet when the handle is disposed at an inclined restposition.

G. A. Brace U.S. Pat. No, 2,763,887 shows an adjustable nozzle suctioncleaner similarly disclosing means for raising the nozzle to anoff-the-floor position and is constructed to so arrange the vacuumcleaner whenformed with two threaded holes, a cam stud is threaded intoone of the holes to extend upwardly from the upper surface of the flatportion to engage the lever arm or central portion of the rear wheelaxle. The rear portion of the vacuum cleaner is biased to a lowerposition corresponding to a nozzle raised position by the weight of thecleaner as after the cam stud is lowered.

The US. Letters Pat. No. 3,579,699 to J. L. Balzer shows a suctioncleaner nozzle adjustment including an elongated control member havingspaced lower and upper elongated slots, and a hand grip. The wheel shaftextends through the lower slot to support the adjusting control memberrotatably with the upper portion of the adjusting control memberprojecting upwardly through a slot in the nozzle. Cam surface means areprovided for cooperation with a pin detent means for effecting desiredadjustment of the nozzle.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON The present invention comprehends an improvedvacuum cleaner structure for adjusting a carriage relative to thesubjacent floor surface, which is extremely simple and economical ofconstruction while yet providing improved positive control of theadjustment. Thus, the control structure is adapted for use in a vacuumcleaner having a carriage, front wheels, rear wheels rotatably carriedby the carriage, and a noule on the carriage. The control structureincludes axle means for joumalling said front wheels for rotation abouta horizontal wheel axis, means mounting the axle means to the carriagefor pivotal movement about a pivot axis parallel to and spaced from thewheel axis, a control member adjustably carried by the nozzle, lockingmeans for releasably retaining the control member in any one of aplurality of different preselected adjusted positions, and a connectorconnected between the control member and a portion of the axle mountingmeans spaced from the pivot axis defining means for effectivelypositively pivoting the axle means in one direction of pivoting aboutthe pivot axis as a result of adjustment of the control member in onedirection of adjustment and thereby adjustably raising the front portionof the carriage relative to the subjacent surface to provide anadjustable mounting suitable for use with different pile height floorcoverings.

The locking means may define separable interconnecting portions arrangedto become separated as a result of inadvertent substantial force beingapplied downwardly on the nozzle which would otherwise tend to damagethe positive connection between the control member and the axle mountingmeans portion. Further the nozzle may define a guide extending parallelto the wheel axis and means for carrying the control member forrectilinear movement along the guide to effect the adjustment. 1n thespecific embodiment of the drawing, the control means includes aconnector comprising a rectilinearly adjustable means on the nozzle, aforce transmitting member pivotally carried by the carriage, and meansconnecting the adjustable means and force transmitting member to urgethe force transmitting member adjustably against the axle means in onedirection of movement of the force transmitting member. The connectingmeans illustratively comprises a link movably connected at one end tothe adjustable means and at the other end to the force transmittingmember.

Thus, the vacuum cleaner may be readily adjusted for different pileheights by simply moving the control member along a rectilinear guide onthe top front of the nozzle to correspondingly swing the front wheels ofthe carriage away from the front of the carriage and thereby elevate thecarriage as desired. The structure of the present invention is extremelysimple and economical of construction while yet providing the desirablefeatures discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner having a nozzleadjustment means embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken substantiallyalong the line 44 of FIG. 2',

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the vacuum cleanerstructure takensubstantially along the line 55 of FIG 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along the line 6-6of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an adjustment catch member employed inthe illustrated embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section of a portion of the structure of FIG. 6with the nozzle adjustment control positioned for maximum elevation ofthe nozzle; and

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 99 ofFIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment ofthe invention as disclosed in the drawing, a vacuum cleaner generallydesignated 10 is shown to comprise an upright vacuum cleaner having anozzle 11, a bag housing 12, and a handle 13 for guiding the vacuumcleaner in normal use. The vacuum cleaner is movably carried on acarriage generally designated 14 having a pair of front wheels 15 and apair of rear wheels 16. Nozzle 11 is swingably mounted for movementabout the axle 17 of the fan motor 18 carried coaxially in a cylindricalhousing 19 at the lower end of the bag housing 12, as shown in FIG. 3.The front portion 20 of the noule is biased downwardly by a pair of coilsprings 21 connected between posts 22 on the nozzle and a front comerportion 23 on the carriage 14. The tension springs 21 are relativelylight so that the nozzle tends to float with a brush and beater bar 24thereof urged lightly downwardly against the subjacent carpet surface.As shown in FIG. 3, the brush and beater bar may be driven by a suitablebelt 25 from the motor 18. The brush and beater baris enclosed in aninlet housing 26 having a lower opening 27 through which air is drawninto the vacuum cleaner. A foot pedal 28 is'mounted on one end of across shaft 29 journalled in the side plates 30 of the carriage formanipulating a latch 31 to selectively hold the bag housing 12 in avertical storage position, as shown in FIG. 3.

As indicated briefly above, the present invention is concerned withmeans for adjusting the vacuum cleaner to different pile heights.Illustratively, the vacuum cleaner may be adjusted for use with low pilecarpeting, shag carpeting, medium deep shagcarpeting. and deep shagcarpeting with in a plurality of different corresponding heightdispositions by a novel control means generally designated 32. Morespecifically. as best seen in FIG. 2, the front wheels 15 are rotatablyjournalled on an axle 33 having outboard coaxial end portions 34 andretaining means 35 for removably retaining the wheels 15 on the endportions 34. The midportion 36 of the axle 33 is offset rearwardly fromthe end portions by connecting portions 37 and 38. Connecting portion 38further includes a rearward extension 39 entending rearwardly through anopening 40 in an inclined front plate portion 41 of the carriage.Midportion 36 of the axle is pivotally journalled in a pair of forwardlyprojecting bracket legs 42 carried on front wall 41 such as by screws 43(FIG. 6). Control of the height position is effected by swinging thewheel axle 33 about the pivot axis of mid-portion 36, as shown in FIG.4, so as to raise or lower the front wheels 15. Swinging of the axle iseffected by suitable movement of the rearward extension 39.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, upward and downward movement of axleextension 39 is effected by cam member 44 having an upwardly facingcamming surface 45 on which the axle extension 39 slidably rests. Cam 44comprises a rearwardly formed portion of a pivot plate 46 having a pivotportion 47 pivotally mounted to the wall 41 as by a rivet 48. The wall41 is provided with an arcuate slot 49 slidably receiving a rivet 50 formaintaining the pivot plate 46 in facial engagement with the rearsurface 51 of wall 41.

Swinging movement of the pivot plate 46 is effected by a manual knobmember 52 of control 32 received in a recess portion 53 of the nozzlefront portion 20, as shown in FIG. 1. Nozzle recess portion 53 isprovided with an elongated transverse slot 54. A pair of connectors 55extend downwardly from knob 52 through slot 54 to guide the knob fortransverse movement along the slot. A leaf spring 56 is disposed betweenthe nozzle portion 53 and the lower end of the knob 52 to bias the knobupwardly of the nozzle front portion 20.

A mounting plate 57 is-mounted on the lower end of the connectors 55 bymeans of suitable screws 58 (FIG. 6). A stabilizing slide bar 59 ismounted on the connectors below wall surface 72 and above mounting plate57. Nozzle wall surface 72 is provided with a plurality of spaceddownwardly projecting teeth 60 below slot 54 and mounting plate 57carries a cooperating adjustment catch member 61 (FIG. 7) having spacedtoothlike projections 61a and 61b adapted to engage teeth 60 selectivelyand thereby selectively position the mounting plate 57 along thetransverse slot 54. The catch member 61 is biased upwardly by the spring56 to maintain the selected adjustment. However, to change thepositioning of the mounting plate 57, the user merely urges the controlknob 52 downwardly against the bias of spring 56 to move the catchmember 61 away from teeth 60 and permitting transverse movement of themounting plate 57 along slot 54 under the guiding action of connectors55 in the slot to a new selected position of the mounting plate 57whereupon release of the control knob 52 permits spring 56 to bring thecatch member 61 again into locking engagement with the teeth 60.

The transversely adjusted position of the mounting plate 57 istransmitted to the pivot plate 46 by a suitable connecting link 62having one tumed end 63 received in an aperture 64 of a tab 65 on themounting plate 57, and an opposite turned end 66 received in a suitableaperture 67 in the distal end of the pivot plate 46.

Thus, selective positioning of the control knob 52 longitudinally ofslot 54 effects a corresponding pivotal positioning of pivot plate 46and the cam member 44 therewith, As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, a clockwisemovement of the pivot plate 46swings camming surface 45 upwardly againstthe axle extension 39 thereby to lower the wheels relative to thecarriage 14 thereby raising the nozzle front portion 20. As shown inFIG. 5, the control knob 52 may be selectively positioned in a pluralityof discrete transversely spaced positions corresponding to Low Pile,Shag, Medium and Deep Shag pile heights as indicated by thecorresponding indicia 68 carried on the nozzle portion 53. As the numberof teeth 60 are greater than the indicated different designations,intermediate dispositions of the nozzle height may be effected. Thecontrol knob 52 may be provided with a forwardly. projecting fingergripping portion 69 permitting the user to grasp portion 69 and byconcurrently urging the control knob 52 downwardly, reposition thecontrol knob transversely along the slot 54 as desired.

The toothed adjustment catch member 61 (see FIG. 7) is preferably formedof a resilient plastic material, such as polyurethane which, togetherwith the spring 56, provides a positive locking engagement with teethThe toothed adjustment catch member 61 may advantageously include aresilient projecting arm portion 61c which cooperates with the teeth 60to provide a sound like that emitted during operation of a ratchet asthe catch member 61 is moved relative to the teeth 60 during adjustmentof the nozzle. This ratchet-like sound constitutes an audible signalwhich positively informs the operator of the movement of the adjustmentcatch member 61 relative to the teeth 60 as control knob 52 isadjustably moved toward the selected position.

Thus, in use, the user merely raises the front of the nozzle above thesurface on which it rests and adjusts the position of control knob 52 tothe desired selected pile height setting whereupon the axle 33 carryingthe front wheels 15 is swung about the axis of portion 36 to raise orlower correspondingly the axis of axle portions 34 and thereby thewheels 15 rotatably mounted thereon. The setting of the wheels isreleasably retained by the toothed engagement of members 61 and 60. Thenozzle is floatingly carried by means of the springs 21 to provide animproved accurate control of the carpet cleaning operation.

The control means is extremely simple and economical. of constructionwhile yet providing the improved accurate control as discussed above.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of thebroad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a carriage, front wheels, rear wheelsrotatably carried by the carriage, a

10 justably carried by the nozzle, locking means for releasablyretaining the control member in any one of a plurality of differentpreselected adjusted positions, and improved means for positioning theaxle means comprising a connector having a portion pivotally mounted onsaid carriage and means movably connected between said connector andsaid control member, said connector portion having a lower forcetransmitting member spaced substantially below said top wall substantially at the level of said wheel axis for engaging a portion ofsaid axle means spaced from said pivot axis defining means foreffectively positively pivoting said axle means in one direction ofpivoting about said pivot axis as a result of adjustment of said controlmember in one direction of adjustment and thereby adjustably raisingsaid front portion of the carriage relative to the subjacent surface toprovide an adjustable mounting of the vacuum cleaner suitable for usewith different pile height floor coverings.

2. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said locking meansdefines vertically interconnecting portions.

3. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said locking meansdefines vertically interconnecting teeth.

4. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said connectorportion comprises a cam pivotally carried by the carriage, said meansconnected to said control member comprises a link connected between saidcontrol member and said cam for adjustably pivoting the cam against saidaxle means, and means are provided for limiting the pivotal movement ofthe cam on said carriage.

5. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said nozzle defines aguide extending parallel to said wheel axis and means for carrying sadcontrol member for rectilinear movement along said guide to effect saidadjustment of the carriage front portion.

6. In a vacuum cleaner having a carriage, front wheels, rear wheelsrotatably carried by the carriage, a nozzle carried on the carriage andhaving a front portion and a top wall, and structure for adjusting theheight of the front portion of the carriage relative to a subjacentsurface on which said wheels are disposed including axle means forjoumalling said front wheels for rotation about a horizontal wheel axis,means mounting the axle means to saidcarriage for pivotal movement abouta horizontal pivot axis parallel to and spaced from said wheel axis, acontrol member adjustably carried by the nozzle, locking means forreleasably retaining the control member in any one of a plurality ofdifferent preselected adjusted positions, and improved means forpositioning the axle means comprising a connector having a portionpivotally mounted to said carriageand means movably connected betweensaid connector and said control member, said connector portion defininglower cam means spaced substantially below said top wall substantiallyat the level of said wheel axis for engaging a portion of said axlemeans spaced from said pivot axis defining means for effectivelypositively pivoting said axle means to swing said front wheelsdownwardly about said pivot axis as a result of adjustment of saidcontrol member in one direction of adjustment and thereby adjustablyraise said front portion of the carriage relative to the subjacentsurface.

7. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 6 wherein said control membercomprises rectilinearly adjustable means on said nozzle, and said meansconnected to the control member comprises means connecting theadjustable means and force transmitting member to urge the forcetransmitting member adjustably against said axle means in one directionof movement of the force transmitting member.

8. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 6 wherein said forcetransmitting member comprises a cam pivotally carried by the carriage.

9. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 6 wherein said control membercomprises rectilinearly adjustable means on said nozzle, and said meansconnected to the control member comprises means connecting theadjustable means and force transmitting member to urge the forcetransmitting member adjustably against said axle means in one directionof movement of the force transmitting member, and means slidablyconnecting the force transmitting member to the carriage along an arcspaced from the axis of pivoting of the force transmitting member formaintaining movement of the force trasnmitting member parallel to asingle plane.

10. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 6 wherein said control membercomprises rectilinearly adjustable means on said nozzle, and said meansconnected to the control member comprises a link movably connected atone end to said adjustable means and movably connected at the other endto the force transmitting member to urge the force transmitting memberadjustably against said axle means in one direction of movement of theforce transmitting member.

11. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 7 wherein said adjustablemeans includes a rectilinear guide carried by the nozzle, a slidemovably engaging the guide, first locking tooth means carried by thenozzle adjacent the guide, and second locking tooth means carried by theslide in engagement with said first tooth means, at

least one of said tooth means being yieldable.

12. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 7 wherein said adjustablemeans includes a rectilinear guide carried by the nozzle, a slidemovably engaging the guide, first locking tooth means carried by thenozzle adjacent the guide, and second locking tooth means carried by theslide in engagement with said first tooth means.

13. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said second lockingtooth means carried by the slide is a toothed adjustment catch memberformed of a resilient plastic material.

14. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 13 wherein said adjustmentcatch member includes means cooperating with said first locking toothmeans to provide an audible signal as said control member is adjustablymoved relative to said nozzle. i=

31 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,848,292 Dated November 19 1974 Inventol-(s) ERWIN E. NORDEEN andCLIFFORD H. OLSON It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

I a Column 6, Claim 1, line 6, before "wheel" correct the spelling of"horizontal" to -horizontal-; and in line 15, before "said carriage"cancel "on" and substitute therefor --to Column 6, Claim 5, line 45,after "carrying" 4 correct the spelling of "sad" to -said- Column 7,Claim 9, line 31, before "member" correct the spelling of "trasnmitting"to transmitti ng.

Column 8, Claim 13, line 22, after "claim" cancel "'1" and substitutetherefor -l2--.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of April 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON I Commissioner of Patents AttestingOfficer and Trademarks

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a carriage, front wheels, rear wheelsrotatably carried by the carriage, a nozzle having a front portion and atop wall, means for carrying the nozzle on the carriage, and structurefor adjusting the height of the front portion of the carriage relativeto a subjacent surface on which said wheels are disposed including axlemeans for journalling said front wheels for rotation about a borizontalwheel axis, means mounting the axle means to said carriage for pivotalmovement about a horizontal pivot axis parallel to and spaced from saidwheel axis, a control member adjustably carried by the nozzle, lockingmeans for releasably retaining the control member in any one of aplurality of different preselected adjusted positions, and improvedmeans for positioning the axle means comprising a connector having aportion pivotally mounted on said carriage and means movably connectedbetween said connector and said control member, said connector portionhaving a lower force transmitting member spaced substantially below saidtop wall substantially at the level of said wheel axis for engaging aportion of said axle means spaced from said pivot axis defining meansfor effectively positively pivoting said axle means in one direction ofpivoting about said pivot axis as a result of adjustment of said controlmember in one direction of adjustment and thereby adjustably raisingsaid front portion of the carriage relative to the subjacent surface toprovide an adjustable mounting of the vacuum cleaner suitable for usewith different pile height floor coverings.
 2. The vacuum cleanerstructure of claim 1 wherein said locking means defines verticallyinterconnecting portions.
 3. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1wherein said locking means defines vertically interconnecting teeth. 4.The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said connector portioncomprises a cam pivotally carried by the carriage, said means connectedto said control member comprises a link connected between said controlmember and said cam for adjustably pivoting the cam against said axlemeans, and means are proVided for limiting the pivotal movement of thecam on said carriage.
 5. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 whereinsaid nozzle defines a guide extending parallel to said wheel axis andmeans for carrying sad control member for rectilinear movement alongsaid guide to effect said adjustment of the carriage front portion. 6.In a vacuum cleaner having a carriage, front wheels, rear wheelsrotatably carried by the carriage, a nozzle carried on the carriage andhaving a front portion and a top wall, and structure for adjusting theheight of the front portion of the carriage relative to a subjacentsurface on which said wheels are disposed including axle means forjournalling said front wheels for rotation about a horizontal wheelaxis, means mounting the axle means to said carriage for pivotalmovement about a horizontal pivot axis parallel to and spaced from saidwheel axis, a control member adjustably carried by the nozzle, lockingmeans for releasably retaining the control member in any one of aplurality of different preselected adjusted positions, and improvedmeans for positioning the axle means comprising a connector having aportion pivotally mounted to said carriage and means movably connectedbetween said connector and said control member, said connector portiondefining lower cam means spaced substantially below said top wallsubstantially at the level of said wheel axis for engaging a portion ofsaid axle means spaced from said pivot axis defining means foreffectively positively pivoting said axle means to swing said frontwheels downwardly about said pivot axis as a result of adjustment ofsaid control member in one direction of adjustment and therebyadjustably raise said front portion of the carriage relative to thesubjacent surface.
 7. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 6 whereinsaid control member comprises rectilinearly adjustable means on saidnozzle, and said means connected to the control member comprises meansconnecting the adjustable means and force transmitting member to urgethe force transmitting member adjustably against said axle means in onedirection of movement of the force transmitting member.
 8. The vacuumcleaner structure of claim 6 wherein said force transmitting membercomprises a cam pivotally carried by the carriage.
 9. The vacuum cleanerstructure of claim 6 wherein said control member comprises rectilinearlyadjustable means on said nozzle, and said means connected to the controlmember comprises means connecting the adjustable means and forcetransmitting member to urge the force transmitting member adjustablyagainst said axle means in one direction of movement of the forcetransmitting member, and means slidably connecting the forcetransmitting member to the carriage along an arc spaced from the axis ofpivoting of the force transmitting member for maintaining movement ofthe force trasnmitting member parallel to a single plane.
 10. The vacuumcleaner structure of claim 6 wherein said control member comprisesrectilinearly adjustable means on said nozzle, and said means connectedto the control member comprises a link movably connected at one end tosaid adjustable means and movably connected at the other end to theforce transmitting member to urge the force transmitting memberadjustably against said axle means in one direction of movement of theforce transmitting member.
 11. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 7wherein said adjustable means includes a rectilinear guide carried bythe nozzle, a slide movably engaging the guide, first locking toothmeans carried by the nozzle adjacent the guide, and second locking toothmeans carried by the slide in engagement with said first tooth means, atleast one of said tooth means being yieldable.
 12. The vacuum cleanerstructure of claim 7 wherein said adjustable means includes arectilinear guide carried by the nozzle, a slide movably engaging theguide, first locking tooth means carried by the nozzle adjacent theguide, and second lockinG tooth means carried by the slide in engagementwith said first tooth means.
 13. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1wherein said second locking tooth means carried by the slide is atoothed adjustment catch member formed of a resilient plastic material.14. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 13 wherein said adjustmentcatch member includes means cooperating with said first locking toothmeans to provide an audible signal as said control member is adjustablymoved relative to said nozzle.